Hero MotoCorp has begun testing the XPulse 300 and Xtreme 300. The company’s XPulse 200 continued on the success of the Impulse and became an instant hit. Meanwhile, its other 200cc siblings, XPulse 200T and Xtreme 200 S, didn’t find many takers. While the XPulse 200 still continues its success story, many decided not to opt for it due to the lack of power for highway touring.
Hero did promise that it would launch new 300cc bikes a few years ago, and now it looks like things are moving forward. The spy shots come from the Leh Ladakh region, which could mean Hero could be doing high-altitude testing. A motorcycle rider and YouTuber was able to capture the two motorcycles on his camera. Thus, giving us a first glimpse at the 300cc Hero motorcycles.
From what it looks like, Hero could launch both these products at the beginning of 2023. Like the XPulse 200, both these products will also be value-for-money propositions and will undercut competitors’ pricing.
New Hero XPulse 300 & Xtreme 300 Spotted – What Do We See?
XPulse 300
The highlight of these spy shots is undoubtedly the XPulse 300. As mentioned before, Indian enthusiasts have liked the XPulse 200 but thought it lacked power for long touring. It seems like Hero has been listening to customers’ demands and feedback. And this is a direct result of it. When it hits the showrooms, expect it to become one of the top no-nonsense VFM adventure bikes.
Back in 2020, Hero showcased a 300cc engine with a trellis frame. Except for Hero’s 450RR Dakar Rally bike, no other bike in the brand’s lineup uses a trellis frame. The person recording the video assumed it was a Himalayan 450 test mule. However, closer inspection confirms it is Hero’s upcoming 300cc adventure bike.
Firstly, the red trellis frame. The trellis frame is clearly visible and looks similar to the one Hero showcased in 2020. Next is the identical clutch cover. Other things that confirm this is the 300cc XPulse are – wire-spoke wheels with petal discs, USD forks, a similar swingarm and the chrome-finished side stand. From the looks of it, the bigger XPulse will continue to sport a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel setup. However, it will get wider tyres, which are also visible. For better highway cruising, there is also a bigger windscreen than the XPulse 200. At the same time, the beak is also larger.
When Hero launches the off-roader, it will directly compete with the KTM 390 Adventure, Yezdi Adventure, BMW G 310 GS, and Royal Enfield’s current Himalayan as well as the upcoming Himalayan 450.
Xtreme 300
The other test mule was a fully-faired motorcycle. From what we can see, Hero’s 300cc fully-faired motorcycle will be larger than the sportier options like the KTM RC 390. The rider’s ergonomics triangle looks to be in between a sporty and an upright stance. Not much is visible, but we can see that it will get alloy wheels and sporty clip-on handlebars. Unlike the XPulse 300 all-terrain tyres, the Xtreme 300 will get road-spec tyres.
The engine on the Xtreme 300 could also be in a different state of tune to match the bike’s character. Hero’s semi-faired motorcycles like the Karizma have been extremely popular in the market. However, the same can’t be said about the Xtreme 200 S. If Hero is able to get the pricing, design and specs right, Hero could have a winner on its hands. The model will directly compare with the TVS Apache RR 310, KTM RC 390 and the BMW G 310 RR.
Hero XPulse 300 & Xtreme 300 – Engine Specifications
The engine will most likely be over 300cc, but not by much. Power and torque figures for the motor could be in the range of 27 to 30 BHP and 25 to 27 Nm of torque. Both the models will get the same engines but could run on different states of tune. The brand might also offer an XPulse 300T at a later date, but there is no confirmation about it as of now.
Also Read: 2022 Hero MotoCorp XPulse 200T coming soon, spotted on TVC shoot
